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Power Struggles Shape The Commune
- The Paris Commune struggled between anarchism and centralized dictatorship, resulting in chaos and defeat.
- External threats from Versailles made isolation impossible, pushing the Commune toward authoritarian measures.
Hostage Policy Focused On Leverage
- The Commune’s decree on hostages aimed to arrest suspected Versaillais collaborators for protection, not execution.
- They abolished the death penalty and no prisoners were harmed in custody during this period.
Military Discipline Undermines Morale
- The war delegate Cluseret tried to turn the National Guard into a regular army with compulsory service and age limits.
- His military professionalism clashed with the Guard's volunteer spirit, damaging morale and unity.